Uniform cap construction



AU8 24, 1954 s. o. scHLEslNGl-:R 2,635,919

UNIFORM CAP CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 8, 1948 INVENTOR son. owen scHLEsmsr-:R

Y Y /La ATTORNEY Allg- 24, 1954Y s. o. scHLEsmGER, 2,686,919

UNIFORM CAP CONSTRUCTION Filed July 8, 1948 O f2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @n @12 @15. l w 7F "Q "r 7 f '1,'

soL owENsNLTEOsNGER Q8 l' 7/ 68 Z2 67 M7777 ATTO RN EY Patented Aug. 24, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT @ppm-E N 2,686,919 UNIFORM LCAP ooNsTRUoTioN v Sol Schlesinger, Lawrence, N. Y. `AppHessian 'July 8, 194g,- SeriaTNm .$37,661

The present inventionrelates to -a uniform cap construction and it particularly relatesto `a nuniform cap useful Vfor militaryynaval for uni formed services in gener-a1. i

It `isA among thecbjectsof the "presentfinvention to provide anovel `uniform cap construction which may Abe which rwill be durable and-attrac`tive in appeare ance and which m'ay be readily-changeerom stiff to collapsed crow-nor top condition.

M Stillffurther objectsand advantages will appear in the moredet'ailed descriptioniset -forth below; itl being understood; however, that this more detaileddescriptioni-isgiven by way of il# lustration and `explanation only land @not by way :i

inexpensively manufactured, n

"tached` to the head-'encircling band 'extends l 'downwardly andth'etape of theiside lof `.the tastener attached to .top or cover extends upwardly.

`When the detachable top 4or "cover `is attached to the head-encircling banoL` the slide fastener will draw the lower part 'of the top `'down `over fthe upper end of the head=encirclinglband,giving the dressy nare top appearance.

Theinvention also contemplates thepriovision `of a detachable front'supp'ort `of metal for plastic,

in which the lowereler'nentrof the front ,support will most readily slide `downwardly into fa receiver 'fastened to the head-encircling band "by .plastic adhesion or metallic fastening.

A tubular or resilient grommet may fbe detach- :ably connected to the top Aof the liront support yand `may preferably consist A'of i a 'circular tubeiof rubber material. It may also consist of a closely `Wound coil, whichif desired maybe coveredby rubber. :Preferably a flatle'af spring Withits flat 'plane extending vertically; 'is includedy -in either i the tubular rubbergrommetfor fthe coil spring -grommet or both. E

`If it is `desired to have `a collapsed-for crushed crown or cover, the grommetor circular top 'supwportmay` be' removed-from the 'frontsupporti Then the vertical front support may be reor removing `the lower 1part"fof the vertical ifront support from the lieylhole l`connections provided therefor.

'The invention also`'co`nsis'ts 1in lcertain `new land original 'featliresic'f construction iland combination of parts, hereinafter `set forth and `claimed and as Yto its fotherobjectsteatilres'and ladvantages`,themodeof ope ationand manner Foi its organizatilmlthesel Lrmay ibe Abetter `understood by referring i to thedllowing'lfdescription considereol in `conneti'on-vritli the accompanying drawings `formingapart thereot lin vwhich; i

Fig.` 1- isaside-perspective vliexvofa military or Aolcial cap construction f showing the crown partly removed. y

Fig. 2`is aside-perspective view-'similar to' Fig. 1 with thelvisdrfturnedflat-an angle `of about 90 'to the lright'and with "thelcrown substantially completely removedfr'om tliebaA d H of the fcap;

Fig. 3 lis a vertical transversefragmentary"sectional viewfupon the linefI3-3Ao'ff11`*ig. 1 and upon "an enlargediscaleas' cmp'a'redto Fig.` 1.

Fig. 4 is ``a fragmentaryverticalltransverse1sectional ``view upon 'theline 4;4 fof'Fig; l and lupon an enlargediscale ascomparedtoil'ig. l1.

FigcY 5 is-al fragmentary `inside perspective View of the front portion of the headband portion Y'cap 'upon the #li-ne' 545 `of Fig.l*l; showing the 'front supportreceiven Fig. 56 isf a1 jtop perspective view, "partly section. of the frontsupport"asV well as the lgrommet.

Fig. 'l is an inside perspective View upon an *enlarged yscalefas compared to Fgs. 31 fand L2, showying the 'slideilreceptr `Whichmay` be utilized" at theffront of 'the Ih'ead bandiofthe capito receive the "llowerend of the front'fsipport.

Fig. f8 yis la separated perspective view showing an alternativel fior-m o'lslide 'receptor and'lower end -l.front vertical support element. i

Fig.- `9 a diagram-'matietransverse "vertical sectional view-eponvan elargedfscale'of one type of plastic head-nci'rlinglliiinerband. f

Fig. V is "a -diagrammatidl'transverse vertical sectional yviewupon *an enlarged scale of one t'ype 'of a slideway receiver vfor the rontsuppoitlwhich may be mountedupon theiinside front portion of the plastic inner"b`an'd,` "as shown in Fig. "9.

Fig. 11 is a vert'ical 'detailed/transverse sectional viewupon an enlarged 'scale of a` rubber tubular ifggromrnet with an enclosed latfspring stlener.

l hesive solution.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary detailed perspective view upon an enlarged scale of an alternative form of a rubber tubular grommet with a flat leaf spring enclosed.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary detailed perspective view of an alternative form of a combination grommet with an outer rubber tube, an intermediate closely wound coil spring and an inside vertical flat leaf spring.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the military cap which is shown by way of illustration has a removable crown or top A, a head-encircling band section B and a visor section C.

The reversed slide fastener connection D is located at the bottom edge of the crown or top A and the top edge of the band B.

At the front of the hat may be positioned the vertical structural member, front member, or emblem carrier E, shown best in Fig. 6, as well as the top or crown expanding or stiffening grommet member F. The lower part of the Vertical struc- I tural element may consist of a straight imperforated metal or plastic piece H (see Fig. 6) or a piece having spaced keyhole shaped eyelets as indicated at M (see Fig. 3). The slide receptor or support K, L or M for the lower end H or M of said Vertical member E may be mounted in the inside of the member B and may consist of a plastic receiver K or metal receiver as indicated at L and M.

Referring specifically to Figs. l to 4, the main structural element or the encircling band B as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 has a central stiffener or inner band III which may be of rattan but in the construction shown is preferably of an extruded thermoplastic material, ethyl cellulose being preferred. In extruding the ethyl cellulose in the form of a relatively thin band, the upper and lower edges are rounded as indicated at II and l2 in large scale in Fig. 9. This will give maximum strength for thinness of the strip and permit maximum exibility both laterally and longitudinally of the band with suitable stiffness to support the hat structure.

To the stiifening band Ii) is sewn the fabric covering I3, which extends around the lower end I2 of the stiffening member I0 as indicated at I3 and then upwardly to terminate at I4 (see Fig. 3). The position I4 is about one-third of the way up the inside face of the stiffening band I0.

The felt or fabric covering I3 extends upwardly on the outside face of the stiffening band III as indicated at I5 and then is formed into a bead or loop I6 which is stitched as indicated at I1.

Above the bead I6 the fabric covering I3, as indicated at I8, is stitched to the stiffening band at I9. Then it extends upwardly about twothirds the width of the stiffening band I@ tothe point 20 where it is stitched to the stiffening band or inner band I0 as indicated at 2 l.

Stitching as indicated at I9 and 2l is the preferred method of attaching the fabric material I3 to the stiffening band IIJ. Such attachment may also be ,accomplished where the stiffening member is a thermoplastic resin, such as ethyl cellulose,by an organic solvent or suitable ad- The inside leather or other sweatband 22 is sewn to the inside ply 23 of the covering fabric I3 by the stitching 24.

The outside of the band carries a removable braid 25. The lower edge 26 of the braid 25' abuts the bead IIS. The upper edge 2l of the braid 25 is stitched at 28 to the stiffener I0. The upper 4 edge 21 of the braid 25 is just below the stitched attachment 29 of the upper tape 30 of the slide fastener D to the inner band I6. The lower tape 3| of the slide fastener D is stitched at 32 to the lower edge 33 of the side fabric 3f! of the crown or top A.

Normally the separable slide fastener D would tend to lie in the position indicated at P in Fig. 2, and it is initially attached and finally separated in the position as shown at P in Fig. 2.

When the crown or top A is completely applied as indicated in Figs. 1 and 4, the slide fastener D will be positioned substantially vertically between the upper part of the stiffener I0 and the lower portion 33 of the crown A. The slide fastener D will extend downwardly to form the closely clinging fold 35 which will extend entirely around the cap, giving it a particularly decorative and dressy appearance.

The bias of the upper slide fastener tape 30 is downwardly, while the bias of the lower slide fastener tape v3l is upward, so that the position as indicated in Fig. 4 will normally be assumed, concealing the slide fastening attachment D with assurance that the crown or cap will not pull up exposing the slide fastener.

Atthe back of the band B the ends of the stiffening or plastic strip Iii may overlap and be adhesively connected to each other or riveted or sewn together. This junction is preferably offset to one side from the junction of the braid 25, which is desirably at the central back portion of the band B. The slide fastening D will also begin and end at the rear central portion 3S.

At the front part lof the band IG (see Fig. 5) the extruded plastic member K may be positioned with its base or channel 5I adhesively attached to the band IIB or sewn thereto. As shown in the enlarged section of Fig. l0, the plastic receiver channel or piece 5I has the upturned edges 52. These edges 52 extend inwardly at 53 to terminate at the rounded edges 54. This construction will give maximum strength to the extruded plastic strip K.

The receiver K of Fig. 10 is designed to receive section I-I of the vertical structural member E of Fig. 6. As shown, the member H has a central portion 55 slightly curved outwardly toiit the curve of the plastic receiver or channel or piece 5I forming part of the receiver K. The member H has an outwardly and upwardly flanged portion 56 which may serve as a stop by abutting the top edge I5? (see Fig. 5) of the stiffening member I 0. From the flange 56 the structural member E has an upwardly and forwardly eX- tending portion 5l carrying the slot 5S to receive the threaded leg or fastening member of the cap ornament, emblem device or insignia. This leg is to be inserted through the opening 59 in the flare of the top portion A.

The slot 58 permits considerable variation in the position of the eyelet 5d to fit dilferent designs of ornaments, insignia, and covers.

The structural element E may be cf vmetal, as may also the receiver K. It is preferably formed from an extruded ethyl cellulose or other thermoplastic material.

The top portion of the structure E is turned over as indicated at GI to receive a plug member 62, the ends E3 of which extend beyond the edge 64 of the turned-over portion 5l. This plug member 62 may be removable from the turnedover portion 5I. It is desirably, however, riveted in place as indicated at E5.

The projecting ends 53 of the plug @2 are depress-ionbf air in the tube `61 andl stiifen said ntulbe fwitliout inclusion offa sti'eningspring fband W|`8.

In such case, to aid the stiffeningeffect `of,

thepartly inflated rubber `tube 161 itself, such lrlubber tube "In'atf"have` a l'semi-'circular -section or flattened insidesection 1'5, asindicated in AFig. l1, instead of the circular section 'as indicated in .In the preferred embodiment, howeverya thin flat l'e'af spring 'B18 may b'einserted into the `rubb'er tiib`e261 andextend throughout the `length -thereofand fit into slots 1l0 fin the `ends of the iplug'" 62. IThis "islindicate'd diagrammatically in Fig. 12. In Fig. l2 the ends'll ofthe leafspring 68 are held frictionally in said slots 1D. If desire,"-inste"ad of, or inaddition to, the rubber tube 61, it is possible to utilize `a closely wound coil spring 12. This coil spring 12 may enclose `thelee'nf spring 68 as shown in Fig. 13 togive sat- ."isfactory stiffening effect to the circular `top elelment for grommet F of Fig. 6.

lIn the embodiment of Fig. 11, the curved or Icircular portion 13 preferably rides against the edge 14 of the cap while the flat portion 15 contacts and `positions the leaf spring 68.

.In the 'alternative receiver structure as indicated atL in Fig. 7, a curved metal fbase plate 185 isshown having prongs 8'6 stamped outof the openings 81. These prongs 86 enable attachment Adirectly 'to the rattan or thermoplastic stiffening element l0. On the opposite side oi the prongs 86 may be positioned the slides 89 stamped out integrally from the body 86. The

slides 89 have the inturned portionsgl which overlie the openings 92. Where the element or flange 56 of the structural member E. does not satisfactorily stop against the top edges |51 of the stiifener I0, an additional stopping is desired and a boss or protruson 93 may be provided to stop the lower edge 94 of the lower insert section H of the vertical structural member E.

In the alternative structure of Fig. 8, the member M corresponds to the member I-I of Fig. 6. It has a base plate |0| with three triangularly arranged keyhole openings |02, each having a lower circular portion |03 and an upper extended portion |04.

These keyhole portions are designed to engage the outwardly extending rivets or pins |05 having enlarged heads |05 and which are pinned or otherwise soldered or welded at their bases |01 to the base portion |08 of the receiver element J.

It is thus apparent that the present invention provides a most artistic, attractive and durable uniform military or naval cap, in which the cover may be most readily and simply removedby the wearer for cleaning or seasonal change without disengaging split ends or other fasteners and in which the top or crown may either be worn in crushed or collapsed position, as may be desired. The construction as shown lends itself either to a metal or rattan or plastic skeleton construction and the connection between `the parts may be made either by metal fastenings or by plastic, adhesive attachments. The entire cap lends itself most satisfactorily to mass production.

As many changes could be made in the above uniform cap construction and many apparently band and one Vattached ito the top, 'andinter- 'engaged teeth 'at the edges of sai'd tapes, @the `teethfand tape attached to the ltop being lbelow the teeth and .the tapeaftta'ched to the #band when the top andthe `I`band are conne'cedsby the slider of theslide `fastener connection. f

2. In a uniform cap construction, 'adetaehable top and a head-encirclingfban'd land a'c'ornpletely `separable slide fastener connection `'between 'the loweredge of thetcp and the `upper Aedge ofthe head-encircling band, said slide fastener connection having two tapes, `one attached `to 'the band and one attached to the top, Land interengaged teeth `at l'the edges of `said. tapes, :the teeth and tape attached to `the top being below the teeth and the tape attached to the band when the top and the band are-connected by `the slider of the slide fastener connection, said :connection having its attachment tapes so :attached lthatthe tape attached to the encircling bandbeingfstitehed at its upper edge to the upper edge of the headencircling band and extending downwardly and the tape attached to the top being stitched to the lower edge of the detachable top at its lower edge and extending upwardly.

3. In a uniform cap construction, a detachable top and a head-encircling band and a completely separable slide fastener connection between the lower edge of the top` and the upper edge of the head-encircling band, said slide fastener connection having two tapes, one attached to the band and one attached to the top, and interengaged teeth at the edges of Said tapes, the teeth and tape attached'to the top being below the teeth and the tape attached to the band when the top and the band are connected by the slider of the slide fastener connection, said connection having its tapes so attached to the topand the encircling band so that it will draw the lower edge of the top down over the upper edge of the head-encircling band.

4. In a military type cap with detachable crown and an encircling head band detachably to carry said crown, said crown having an outside surface and a lower encircling edge to carry a slide fastener tape and said head band having an upper edge and an outside surface to carry `another slide fastener tape, a slide fastener connection having two tapes with interlocking teeth, one tape being attached adjacent the upper edge of the head band on the outside surface of the head band with its teeth extending downwardly and the other tape being attached to the outside surface of the crown adjacent to the lower edge of the crown with the teeth extending upwardly, whereby in attached position When the slide fastener connection is in such connected. position that the tapes and interlocking sets of teeth thereof will be in reversed Iposition as compared `to the relative position of the head band and crown.

5. A military type capconstruction having a removable inverted frustro-conical crown having a lower edge and a head-encircling cylindrical band having an upper edge and a reverse slide fastener connection having opposite tapes and engaging teeth, one tape of the slide fastener attached to the band being stitched to the band adjacent the upper edge of the band with the teeth of the fastener extending downwardly away from the upper edge of the band and the tape being above the teeth and the other tape of the slide fastener attached to and adjacent the lower edge of the crown having the tape stitched so that the teeth extend upwardly, so that the tape of the crown is below the tape of the band giving these tapes reverse position as compared to the uppermost position of the crown and lowermost position of the band when the crown and the band are connected by the fastener connection with the teeth interlocking and engaged.

6. A cap construction having a head-encircling band and a front vertical support member, said band having a receiver element and the lower end of said support member engaging said receiver element, said receiver element having a plurality of vertical keeper elements to engage the lower side edges of said support member, said encircling band being of a plastic material and said receiver element also being of a plastic material and cemented to said band at the front of the cap construction.

7. AA cap construction having a head-encircling band and a front vertical support member, said band having a receiver element and the lower end of said support member engaging said receiver element, said receiver element having inturned side edges engaging the lower side edges of the vertical structural element, said encircling band being of a plastic material and said receiver element also being of ra plastic material and ce-l mented to said band at the front of the cap construction.

8. A cap construction having a head-encircling band and a front vertical support member, said band having a receiver element and the lower end of said support member engaging said receiver element, said receiver element having a vertical runway receiving and engaging the lower side edges of the vertical structural elementy said encircling band being of a plastic material and said receiver element also being of a plastic material and cemented to said band at the iront of the cap construction.

References Cited in the le of this patent v UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,206,473 Samish Nov. 28, 1916 1,527,457 Wyllie Feb. 24, 1925 1,818,764 Silverstein Aug. 11, 1931 2,154,210 Lev Apr. 11, 1939 2,267,281 Lander Dec. 23, 1941 2,296,373 Wax et al. Sept. 22, 1942 2,393,270 Schlesinger Jan. 22, 1946 2,424,279 Libshutz et al. July 22, 1947 2,428,639 Springer Oct. 7, 1947 2,445,230 Mattsson et al. July 13, 1948 2,450,284 Lev Sept. 28, 1948 

